FUNNY REASONS WHY LESOTHO IS SO COLD, ACCORDING TO NUL SCIENTISTS

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It is because of a civil war that happened some 180 million years ago!

Lesotho remains one of the coldest places in Africa. It is the only country in the world which has every point above 1000 metres from sea level. The basaltic Maluti Mountains cover the largest pie of the country. At their worst, the temperatures can go as low as a fear inspiring negative 20 degrees celcius!

Here are (funny) reasons why Lesotho is so cold according to scientists at the National University of Lesotho (NUL).

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Some 500 million years ago, Lesotho was part of the supercontinet called Gondwanaland. That continent included what we now call South America, Africa, Antarctica, Australia, the Indian Subcontinent, Zealandia, and Arabia. Yes, South Americans, Indians, Antaticans, New Zealanders and Australians are our brothers after all!

Apparently, the seven land masses decided to part ways some 180 million years ago. As we all know, such separations often create a civil war. In Geology, such a war is called “lifting tectonics.” As the lands separated, violent volcanic eruptions and earth quakes happened.

One such eruption resulted in what we now call Lesotho formation (part of the Drakensberg) which forms the Maluti Mountains of Lesotho. The eruptions went so high that Lesotho now has the highest point in Southern Africa.

As well know, the higher you go, the cooler it becomes. It is because of a civil war which happened some 180 million years that tourists can now visit Afriski Mountain Resort and enjoy sliding over the extra white snows of the Mountain Kingdom.

Ha ho ntho e mpe e se nang molemo.

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